Motorcycle Active Radar Reflector for Enhanced Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current onboard radar systems in land transport vehicles struggle to effectively detect narrow-profile vehicles like motorcycles, leading to a higher collision risk due to their limited equivalent radar cross section, especially when they are positioned at the vehicle's edges or alongside larger targets.
Innovation Solution
A saddle riding vehicle equipped with an active radar reflector system that enhances its radar visibility by amplifying and modulating radar signals, increasing its equivalent radar cross section, which includes integrating the active radar reflector into lighting devices like headlamps and taillights, and optionally using side reflectors to improve detection by automotive radar systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If onboard radar systems are used to detect vehicles, then collision prevention capability is improved, but detection of narrow-profile vehicles like motorcycles deteriorates due to limited equivalent radar cross section
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the principle of changing radar reflection characteristics by equipping motorcycles with active radar reflectors that modify their radar cross-section. These reflectors actively transmit radar signals back to detecting vehicles, making the motorcycle appear larger and more detectable to onboard radar systems, thereby resolving the detection problem for narrow-profile vehicles
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the radar cross-section parameter of the motorcycle by using active radar reflectors that can dynamically adjust their reflection characteristics. The reflectors receive incident radar signals and retransmit them with enhanced amplitude, effectively changing the motorcycle's radar signature from a small, hard-to-detect target to a prominent detectable target
2Adaptability or versatility
If motorcycles travel at outer edges of lanes or parallel to larger targets, then maneuvering flexibility is improved, but detection by onboard radar systems deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The active radar reflectors on the motorcycle change its radar signature regardless of position. By actively transmitting enhanced radar signals, the motorcycle maintains detectability even when positioned at lane edges or parallel to larger vehicles, where passive reflection would be insufficient
Solution Approach 2:
The radar reflector acts as an intermediary that receives weak incident radar signals and amplifies them for retransmission. This intermediary device bridges the gap between the motorcycle's small natural radar cross-section and the detection threshold of onboard radar systems, ensuring detection regardless of relative position
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The active radar reflector system increases the motorcycle's radar visibility, reducing the risk of collisions by enhancing its detection by onboard radar systems in other vehicles, thereby improving safety.
Implementation Method 1
receiving an incident radar radiation and converting it into a corresponding detected electrical signal
Implementation Method 2
processing the detected electrical signal with said at least one amplifier to amplify it
Implementation Method 3
obtain and back-transmit a response radar radiation from said processed electrical signal
Data Source
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Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
A saddle riding type vehicle (1) comprising: a main body (2,3,4) extending along a longitudinal axis (L-L) and having a front part (2), a tail part (4) and a central part (3) interposed between the front part and the tail part (4); at least one front wheel (6) and at least one rear wheel (7); a motor (8) operatively connected to at least one of said wheels (6,7); The saddle riding type vehicle (1 ) further comprises a system mounted on the main body (2,3,4) for reducing a collision risk and comprising at least one active radar reflector (50). The aforesaid collision risk reduction system allows the radar visibility of the vehicle 1 to be increased as a radar target, i.e. increasing its equivalent radar cross section, in order to reduce the risk of the vehicle 1 being involved in a collision with another vehicle equipped with automotive radar which, in an operating condition and during operation, approaches the vehicle 1.